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Lobsters are being deformed and left unable to swim because of undersea cables
Credit: Study warns the animal is three times more likely to have a reduced tail, eye defects or swollen body when exposed to electromagnetic fields | By Olivia Rudgard, Environment Correspondent | The Telegraph | 29 April 2022 | www.telegraph.co.uk ~~
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Lobsters are being deformed and left unable to swim by wind farm cables, a study has warned.
Scientists at Heriot-Watt University exposed over 4,000 lobster and crab eggs to electromagnetic fields similar to those experienced near underwater cables.
Researchers working at a specialist facility at St Abbs Marine Station off the east coast of Scotland found lobsters were three times more likely to be deformed after being exposed to the fields, with bent and reduced tail sections the most common deformities, while some had disrupted eye development or puffy and swollen bodies.
They were also three times more likely to fail a vertical swimming test to get to the surface to find food.
Electromagnetic field exposure did not appear to have much impact on crab larval deformities and swimming test success, though they were smaller in size than those not exposed.
With the expansion of marine renewable energy, the number of undersea power cables is rapidly increasing.
Researchers suggested they should be buried under the seabed to protect the animals.
Lobsters more affected than crabs
The findings, published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, suggest that “marine renewable energy developments could have a considerable impact on shellfish fisheries”, the authors said.
Dr Alastair Lyndon, a marine biologist at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Lobsters were more affected than crabs by the electromagnetic field, at least in the short term.
“Both crab and lobster larvae exposed to the electromagnetic field were smaller, which could have an impact on their survival. Underwater, bigger means better able to avoid predators.
“The electromagnetic field had a much bigger impact on the lobsters.
“We put them through a vertical swimming test to check they could get to the surface to find food. The exposed lobsters were almost three times more likely to fail the test, by not reaching the top of the chamber, than the unexposed ones.
“Lobster isn’t an endangered species but it is under sustained pressure because of its commercial value.
“We should be aware of the need to shield them from electromagnetic fields, particularly during early development, as well as monitoring their long-term behaviour and development, which also goes for crabs.
“One potential solution is to bury the cables in the seafloor. This is already done for many marine renewable developments but can be expensive and difficult to maintain. It will be important to ensure its continued inclusion in the consenting process for future projects.
“We must decarbonise our energy supply, but we must also ensure there are as few unintended consequences as possible.”
The scientists said the findings about crabs were “reassuring”, but longer-term research was needed.
Petra Harsanyi, from St Abbs Marine Station, said: “Exposure to the electromagnetic field made the crab larvae smaller. While that hasn’t had an immediate effect, it does show that there’s an interference with their development.
“It would be interesting to monitor this over time to see whether these crabs have long-term impairments or increased mortality.”
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| Tag: Wildlife |
